Lupita Nyong’o’s 2024 Oscars Gown Had a Very Special Hidden Meaning

It’s hard to believe that 10 years have gone by since Lupita Nyong’o won her first Best Supporting Actress Oscar for 12 Years a Slave. Since she returned to the 2024 Academy Awards to present on Sunday night, the 41-year-old actress thought it was a perfect time to honor her win.

Nyong’o, who is quite the fashion icon, turned up wearing a dazzling light-blue Armani Privé gown that sparkled from every angle. The beading on the dress showed off the intricate work created by the designer and topped off with delicate feathers at the waistline and hem of the gown. E! fashion correspondent Zanna Roberts Rassi revealed that the Oscar winner’s wardrobe choice was more than just a chic ensemble, it had a hidden meaning.

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Lupita Nyong'o and Joseph Quinn at the 96th Annual Oscars held at at the Ovation Hollywood on March 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn at the 96th Annual Oscars held at at the Ovation Hollywood on March 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Rassi wrote on an Instagram post about Nyong’o’s ensemble, “Fact: Originally made for her in 2020, icy blue color is a nod to the dress she wore when she won her Oscar in 2014. Fans will remember the Cinderella-like gown by Prada that Nyong’o wore on the red carpet that year. The fabric flowed, twirled, and swirled with each step she took on that magical night. It’s a moment that even Nyong’o’s stylist, Micaela, holds near and dear to her heart.

Lupita Nyong'o attends the 86th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center. (Photo by Fairchild Archive/Penske Media via Getty Images)
Lupita Nyong’o attends the 86th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center.

“10 years ago. This woman, this dress, and this moment completely changed the course of my career,” Micaela wrote in a tribute Instagram post. “There is so much to reflect on … so many behind the scenes moments and stories leading up to this day. From the rounds of mood boards, sketches, swatches, fittings, and process. It was a journey. I knew from the start that our dress was very special in its simplicity, in its elegance, with the soft blue color and delicate beading. But I couldn’t even dream of that it would have the impact it did. What a privilege and honor it was then and continues to be now!”

Fans might have also been looking for Nyong’o’s boyfriend, Joshua Jackson, to show up with her on the red carpet, but that honor went to someone else. Instead, she attended the Oscars with A Quiet Place: Day One co-star, Joseph Quinn. So, it looks like Nyong’o and Jackson aren’t ready to make their red-carpet couple debut just yet — Oscars night was all about the dress.

Before you go, click here to see all the best arrivals at the 2024 Oscars.

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